UK News

European home improvement retailer Kingfisher Plc (KGF.L) reported Tuesday a profit for fiscal 2014 that declined from last year, reflecting a slower market in France since summer 2014, and adverse foreign exchange movements. The company also said it plans to close around 15 percent surplus B&Q space and a few loss making stores in Europe.

Travel operator Thomas Cook Group Plc. (TCKGY.PK, TCG.L) Tuesday said it is trading in line with management's expectations, and that Summer 2015 trading is developing satisfactorily. According to the company, the Winter 2014/15 season is now almost fully sold, and Summer 2015 is more than 50 percent sold.

Election fever has gripped the UK as Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday urged his people to prudently choose either a prosperous future under his Conservative Party or economic ruin under the Labour Party headed by Ed Miliband.

British Airways has confirmed that some frequent-flyer accounts have been hacked and stated that it has taken steps to lock down the accounts so that they can no longer be accessed. However, top executive club flyers are unlikely to be able to use their points until the problem has been solved.

U.K. house price growth softened for the seventh consecutive month to an 18-month low in March, the Nationwide Building Society reported Friday. House prices advanced 5.1 percent year-on-year in March, slower than February's 5.7 percent increase and a 5.3 percent rise forecast by economists. This was the slowest rate of growth since September 2013.